[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3382]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPROVEMENT AND MODERNIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ERIC CANTOR

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 2004

  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Medicare 
Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act, which was signed 
into law in December by the President.
  I spent a lot of time in the district explaining the new law to my 
seniors. They were excited to learn that this bill is about choices. It 
gives them the freedom to finally make choices that better fit their 
own needs.
  Medicare once was an outdated, one size fits all program. Well, we 
know that not every senior is the same. Through this legislation, 
seniors now have a much better Medicare with lots of options. And if 
they like what they have now, they can keep it. But if they want to 
enhance their Medicare coverage, they have that choice.
  Some examples of the choices seniors will have include the option of 
a free welcome to Medicare physical, diabetes screening, heart disease 
screening, and disease management programs. These options will enhance 
the health of our nation's seniors.
  This law not only gives seniors better access to health care and 
prescription drugs, it puts seniors back in the driver seat when it 
comes to their health care.

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